TUCK'S DEBUT

I am not usually a bragger, but please bear with me as I brag just a little. 


Our son, now able to read almost independently, will try to tackle any book that comes into his path. This year I noticed he has been very partial to the classic Christmas poem titled Twas the Night Before Christmas. Dare I say that I am positive you all have heard this one before? 


So, here is my brag. The other day we were sitting at the table finishing up his homework and he says to me, "Mama, want to hear something?". Bracing myself, never quite sure what to expect to hear out of our boy, I heard something that literally blew me away. 


He began reciting, from memory, Twas the Night Before Christmas. I smiled and nodded along. When he finished the first stanza I started clapping, thinking he was finished. He held his pointer finger up at me and told me to wait because he was not through. He then continued on, through most of the poem, from beginning to end. He needed some prompting when we got to the reindeer because he really thought "Rudolf" should have been included in the list. He then lost track and skipped right to the end where he yells out, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!". 


I clapped, cheered, whistled and then got an idea. I asked him if he would want to record the story for all of you. He got a huge grin and said, "Get your phone! Let's do it now!"

So, without further ado...I bring you a reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas by Tuck B! Click here to listen. We also posted the words below for you to be able to follow along! 


We would love to hear your fantastic reading or reciting of Twas the Night Before Christmas! Record yourself reading and we will post it here on the blog for all to hear! You can use a Voice Memo app, Vocaroo.com, or any other recording software you have on your computer. Send the recording to us at nightlightstories@gmail.com! 

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"